To explore the desorption behavior of polymers from the solid
surfaces, a new experimental technique
was introduced in this research. We referred to it as the
“continuous elution method”. Using this method,
the desorption behavior of preadsorbed polystyrene (PS) and polystyrene
(PS-X) functionalized by a terminal
iminium ion (X) from α- and γ-alumina surfaces was investigated.
The particles preadsorbed by PS or
PS-X were packed into a small column and eluted by various solvents.
Irreversibility of polymer adsorption
can be observed clearly, the adsorption/desorption amount can be
determined, and much new information
on kinetics of desorption, adsorption energy, solvency effect, and etc.
was also obtained. On α-alumina,
it was found that only the X-group is the driven force for adsorption,
and the adsorbed layer has a higher
energetic state than that on γ-alumina. A complicated desorption
kinetics of polymer desorbed from
γ-alumina was observed, which has a relation to the porosity of
adsorbent.